cajen2

I might be interested in the Baader zoom, plus potentially one or two of the others...😉

More, Neil???😉

The new StellaLyra UFF range might give the ES 68° a run for its money. It's 65° v. 68° but if the 30mm is anything to go by, it should be great and nearly £100 cheaper.

Do go on about the TV Nagler, please Gerry....

Can I join the queue for a peek at Cwmdu? 😉

The 130, like my 150, is excellent optically. In fact, it loses nothing to my StellaLyra 8" dob except needing lower f/l EPs to achieve the same mags. No doubt the 8" hoists in more light but it really isn't noticeable except with the faintest stars / DSOs.

Yes, indeed. Come over for a drink...🍾

Booked! Pitch 26.

Unlucky is my middle name....😉 Nope!

I have the OVL 7-21mil version and I agree: optically, it's excellent. The FOV is rather narrow compared with the fixed-length EPs I normally use, but no serious problem there. My only issue is that the zoom ring is so stiff that I have to use two hands, thus often knocking the scope off target.

For those in the UK, that's the same as the StellaLyra 2" 20mil. Excellent EP.

Can I just ask why the Bresser over the SW? Any advantages?

What I can never understand is that businesses and local councils are always complaining about high costs, yet will leave their lights on all night. I have a street lamp outside my back garden, blocking southerly views, which is on till 4am. It illuminates one tiny corner of a pedestrian path, along with numerous others. You'd have thought the council could switch them off after, say, midnight but no. They're happy enough to raise council tax every year, though...

Yes, I've just checked out my old emails. Astro shop.eu told me that one they were selling had the 51 glass.

Jupiter has umpteen times more gravity. I suppose most of them are asteroid captures, which might have done us a favour in the distant past.....fewer to come near Earth!

Yes, cheers for that. Thinking about it, I have a vague recollection that there are two versions of this scope, one with FPL-51, though I don't know if that's the TS or Altair one.

Is it? With the FPL-53 glass? I could swear I saw it as FPL-51.

...and more likely to be found! https://www.cnet.com/science/space/jupiter-quietly-takes-crown-for-most-moons-with-new-tally-of-92/

You might also consider an ES 3x focal extender. I have the 2x and it's very good. https://www.firstlightoptics.com/explore-scientific-eyepieces/explore-scientific-2x-3x-5x-barlow-focal-extender-125.htm

The SW Virtuoso that I linked to before has a parabolic mirror and 500mm f/l. If it's anything like its baby brother, the 100p, it'll be excellent optically.

But one of these is a different story: https://www.firstlightoptics.com/heritage/skywatcher-heritage-114p-virtuoso.html

Oops! I'll get the popcorn....😉😄 May I ask which 80mm frac and which 114mm reflector? Also, what sort of targets are you looking to view? Any preferences? Edit: just read it again....DSOs.

I went to a star party, carefully packing my 8" dob in its carrying bag and making sure I had my eyepieces and accessory case. For a couple of days, we only had heavy rain and cloud, so no observing possible. Then the sun came and and in anticipation of a clear night, I unpacked the scope to collimate it. Then I found I'd left the dob base at home, two hours' drive away......bozo!

Personally, I think that's a nice little system. The 127 Mak fights above its weight and will give you great views of what you and your son want to see - the Moon and planets. You'll be able to use the AZ-GTi manually at first and when you're used to it, make use of its go-to ability to find other targets. Nice choice if you don't mind the narrow FOV.

Not sure if people do this or not, but would it be possible to use the L bracket to mount a small counterweight if only one scope's being used? That might make the 6kg limit for one-sided use a little higher. I realise it'd be side on in profile but I don't suppose that matters.